The Lantern Festival, also known as the “Little Lunar New Year,” falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar and is the end of the New Year celebration. The ancients called the night “Xiao.” It is the night of the first full moon in the year, and it is also the night of the rejuvenation of the earth, symbolizing the coming of spring. On this day, people light up beautiful lanterns, set off fireworks, solve riddles on lanterns, and eat Yuanxiao or Tangyuan to celebrate this happy festival to express the continuation of the celebration of the New Year. How much do you know about the origin and customs of the Lantern Festival?
Lantern Festival origins
There are many beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival. Two likely origins are: the purpose of commemorating the quell of Lü Clan Disturbance and the Torch Festival.
Legend 1: Commemorating the quell of the Lü Clan Disturbance
After the death of Liu Bang, who was the Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty, his son, Liu Ying, ascended the throne as Emperor Hui of Han. Emperor Hui was cowardly and indecisive by nature, so the political power gradually fell into the hands of his mother, Empress Lü Zhi. She dominated the political scene. After Empress Lü Zhi died of illness, the Lü family were anxious and fearful of being killed. Therefore, they secretly assembled at the home of General Lü Lu and conspired to cause chaos in order to completely seize political power. Liu Xiang, the grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han, the Prince of Qi, heard about that. He started a military campaign against the Lüs to protect the empire and the Liu family. Later, Lü Lu was persuaded to return his principalities. The Lü Clan Disturbance was finally completely pacified. After the turmoil was settled, the ministers supported Liu Bang’s second son, Liu Heng, to be enthroned as Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty. Emperor Wen deeply felt that peace and prosperity were not easy to come by, so he designated the fifteenth day of the first lunar month when the Lü Clan Disturbance was quelled, as a day to have fun with the people. Since then, the 15th day of the first lunar month has become a common folk festival – Lantern Festival.
Legend 2: Torch Festival
Originally, people did not go out and see the beautiful lighted lanterns on display. They used torches to drive away insects and beasts in the countryside, hoping to reduce insect pests and pray for a good harvest. It had become popular since the Sui Dynasties. From day to night, tens of thousands of people sang and danced to constantly remove bad luck. Even today, people in some areas still use reeds or branches to make torches on the 15th day of the first lunar month, and dance in groups in the field.
Lantern Festival customs
- Releasing sky lanterns
Sky lanterns are traditionally made from waxed paper shells and bamboo frames, which later are replaced by iron frames. On the Lantern Festival, sky lanterns are released into the night sky with people’s hopes and wishes toward a new year written on the paper shell by igniting the flame source at the bottom. They also signify the hope of peace, reconciliation, and unity of the family. It is said that the higher the sky lantern rises into the air, the more luck and good fortune you get for the new year.
- Making, carrying, and watching lanterns
Making lanterns is a traditional festival custom of the Lantern Festival. On the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, lots of lighted red lanterns hang high in the streets and alleys. Lanterns are made in many different designs such as shapes of flowers and animals. In ancient times, most of the lanterns were red since the red color symbolizes good fortune. The decorative lanterns show people’s yearning for a better life.
- Solving the lantern riddles
On the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar calendar, folks would hang colorful lanterns and set off fireworks. Later, some people wrote riddles on slips of paper and pasted them on colorful lanterns for people to solve. Riddles can inspire wisdom and cater to the festive atmosphere, so many people responded and enjoyed them, and then riddles gradually became an indispensable activity for the Lantern Festival.
4. Eating Yuanxiao (glutinous rice ball)
In the Song Dynasty, a novel food for the Lantern Festival became popular among the people. This kind of food first called “Fu Yuanzi” and later called “Yuanxiao” or “Tangyuan,” is filled with sugar, roses, black sesame paste, red bean paste, cinnamon, nuts, or jujube paste, etc., and is wrapped in glutinous rice flour into a round shape. It can be boiled in soup, fried, or steamed. Eating Yuanxiao signifies the reunion of a family because the name “Tangyuan” is the homophone for union in Mandarin.
Author: Esa Chen
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